Planar Tetracoordinate Silicon in SiCu Cluster.

Photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations have identified the global minimum structure of the 16-valence electron SiCu cluster, which features a planar tetracoordinate silicon (ptSi) in a rhombic arrangement. The Si and Cu triangles are interconnected by a Si/Cu edge, forming an ordered chain-like structure. Besides the conventional 2c-2e σ-bond connecting Si and Cu, the stability of this cluster is reinforced by a delocalized 3c-2e σ-bond in Cu and a π-bond in Si.

Assessment of the competency of learner-centered teaching of clinical preceptor using the augmented Stanford Faculty Development Program Questionnaire (SFDPQ): a cross sectional comparative study.

Background: Education is an important part of the work of most doctors. Clinical preceptors act as role models and supervisors. Preceptors' quality of supervision strongly influences the learning quality of clinical interns (Bartlett et al.

Sex-specific divergent responses of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) towards long-term benzo[a]pyrene exposure revealed stronger resilience and recoverability in female fish.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a representative five-membered polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, has been extensively studied as a pollutant for decades. Despite this, sex-specific responses to BaP exposure remain poorly understood. This study employed a life-cycle exposure approach to investigate the effects of prolonged BaP exposure on marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma), highlighting sex-specific responses.

Wideband reflective metasurface for independent control of mode and circular polarization of orbital angular momentum.

Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase, usually utilized for phase manipulation of circularly polarized (CP) waves, has inherent symmetrical response on left-handed polarized (LCP) and right-handed polarized (RCP) for orbital angular momentum (OAM), which severely hinders its application. By modulating both propagation and PB phase allows independent control of LCP and RCP of OAM, but increases the design difficulty. Here, we propose a phase compensation scheme to independent control the CP states of OAM only utilizing PB phase, where arbitrary topological charges and deflection directions of LCP and RCP beams can be realized.

Dietary exposure to sulfamethazine alters fish intestinal homeostasis and promotes resistance gene transfer.

The present study was undertaken to explore the effects of sulfamethazine (SMZ) dietary exposure on the enrichment of the intestine microbial structure, and antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs) transmission in marine medaka, with respect to antibiotic dose, duration, and sex. In male fish, a dietary exposure of 10 μg/L SMZ led to a heightened SMZ enrichment in the intestine, whereas metabolite (N-SMZ) levels were elevated at a higher exposure concentration (100 μg/L). Conversely, female fish exhibited stable levels of accumulation and metabolic rates across the exposure period.

Assessment of a training project of English as a media of instruction(EMI) using Kirkpatrick model.

Background: English as a Media of Instruction (EMI) teacher development project is based upon the framework for teacher Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and aims to effectively improve both the confidence and overall capacity of EMI lecturers. Kunming Medical University(KMU) conducted the EMI training project to improve teachers' competence for MBBS education. This study aimed to assess teachers' changes following the implementation of this training project, via the Kirkpatrick evaluation model.

Ring- and diffuse-porous tree species from a cold temperate forest diverge in stem hydraulic traits, leaf photosynthetic traits, growth rate and altitudinal distribution.

In cold and humid temperate forests, low temperature, late frost and frequent freeze-thaw cycles are the main factors limiting tree growth and survival. Ring- and diffuse-porous tree species differing in xylem anatomy coexist in these forests, but their divergent adaptations to these factors have been poorly explored. To fill this knowledge gap, we compared four ring-porous and four diffuse-porous tree species from the same temperate forest in Northeast China by quantifying their leaf and stem functional traits, their stem growth rates using tree ring analysis and their resistance to cold represented by upper altitude species distribution borders from survey data.

[Environmental Process, Effects and Risks of Emerging Contaminants in the Estuary-Coastal Environment].

Human activities and global climate change have contributed substantially to the input of land-sourced pollutants into the aquatic environment, especially for emerging or newly identified contaminants, such as microplastics, emerging persistent organic pollutants, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. The prevalence and toxicity of these emerging pollutants has raised continued concern for the health and safety of the public worldwide. A review of sources, distribution, interfacial transport processes of microplastics, per-and polyfluorinated compounds, antibiotics, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals and factors that influence their environmental behavior in the estuary-coastal environment have been included.

Metagenomic evidence for increasing antibiotic resistance in progeny upon parental antibiotic exposure as the cost of hormesis.

Antibiotics are widely consumed in the intensive mariculture industry. A better understanding of the effect of antibiotics on intergenerational antibiotic resistance in organisms is urgent since intergenerational transmission is crucial for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. Herein, marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) chronically exposed to low doses of sulfamethazine (SMZ) hormetically affected the progeny, characterized by increased richness and diversity of fecal microbiota and intestinal barrier-related gene up-regulation.

Selective adsorption of antibiotics on aged microplastics originating from mariculture benefits the colonization of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria.

Microplastics and antibiotics widely coexist in the aquatic environment, especially in mariculture regions. However, antibiotics adsorbed on microplastics and their role in the colonization of microorganisms on microplastics are poorly understood. Therefore, in-situ aging experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of antibiotics and microplastics co-occurrence on microorganisms and assess their potential risks to human health.

[Hydraulics and non-structural carbohydrate contents of under different environmental conditions in Shenyang City, China].

is an important urban ornamental tree species, but poor growth and damages often occur in urban environments. As a street tree species, the decline and death of is particularly frequent, with the relevant physiological mechanism being unclear. In this study, we compared hydraulic characteristics, non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) contents and health status between trees growing along the streets and those in parks in Shenyang City.

Hydraulic vulnerability segmentation in compound-leaved trees: Evidence from an embolism visualization technique.

The hydraulic vulnerability segmentation (HVS) hypothesis implies the existence of differences in embolism resistance between plant organs along the xylem pathway and has been suggested as an adaptation allowing the differential preservation of more resource-rich tissues during drought stress. Compound leaves in trees are considered a low-cost means of increasing leaf area and may thus be expected to show evidence of strong HVS, given the tendency of compound-leaved tree species to shed their leaf units during drought. However, the existence and role of HVS in compound-leaved tree species during drought remain uncertain.

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Late Pregnancy on Early Childhood Development: A Prospective Cohort Study.

There is little direct or indirect evidence of the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy on early childhood development. We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study in China from May 1 to October 31, 2020, that enrolled 135 mother-infant dyads: 57 dyads in the infection cohort and 78 in the non-infection cohort. Among all infants, 14.

Roles of RAGE/ROCK1 Pathway in HMGB1-Induced Early Changes in Barrier Permeability of Human Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cell.

Background: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) causes microvascular endothelial cell barrier dysfunction during acute lung injury (ALI) in sepsis, but the mechanisms have not been well understood. We studied the roles of RAGE and Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1) in HMGB1-induced human pulmonary endothelial barrier disruption.

Methods: In the present study, the recombinant human high mobility group box 1 (rhHMGB1) was used to stimulate human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs).

Perinatal outcomes after selective feticide via umbilical cord occlusion in complicated monochorionic pregnancies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: We aimed to compare perinatal outcomes between umbilical cord occlusion techniques in monochorionic pregnancies, including umbilical cord ligation, fetoscopic laser coagulation, interstitial laser coagulation, bipolar cord occlusion, radiofrequency ablation, and microwave ablation.

Methods: This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020158861). PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for studies published up to May 2020.

Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months in China: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Breast milk is the best source of essential nutrients and bioactive components for infants under 6 months. However, little is known about what affects breastfeeding intentions and practices of Chinese mothers. With measures of individual, setting, and sociocultural factors, this study examined determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of infancy in China.

China's antenatal care promoting early childhood development: evidence from a cross-sectional survey.

The Chinese government has established a three-tier maternal care system covering the entire country and providing integrated antenatal care (ANC) for pregnancies. This study aimed to analyze the direct and indirect effects of ANC services on early childhood development. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted for mothers' ANC visits and assessments of early childhood development in Shanxi and Guizhou provinces, China.

Prevalence of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has generated major mental and psychological health problems worldwide. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, distress, and insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We searched online biomedical databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid, CNKI, and Wanfang Data) and preprint databases (SSRN, bioRxiv, and MedRxiv) for observational studies from January 1, 2020 to March 16, 2020 investigating the prevalence of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Acute exposure of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) induces immune signal regulation and ferroptosis in oryzias melastigma.

The plasticizer di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is becoming increasingly abundant throughout the global environment as plastic pollution becomes highly severe, especially in the ocean. The adverse effects of DEHP have garnered increasing concern as they are recognized as endocrine disruptors. However, information on the effects of DEHP in marine organisms remains limited.

MicroRNA-34a Inhibition Alleviates Lung Injury in Cecal Ligation and Puncture Induced Septic Mice.

Sepsis is the leading cause of death in intensive care units. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) is involved in sepsis progression, while its underlying mechanisms on sepsis-induced lung injury remain obscure. Oxidative stress, pyroptosis, and inhibition of autophagy can result in organ injury.

The intergenerational toxic effects on offspring of medaka fish Oryzias melastigma from parental benzo[a]pyrene exposure via interference of the circadian rhythm.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a widely existed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollutant in aquatic environment, has toxic effects on marine animals and their generations, but the intergenerational immunotoxic mechanism underlying has not been clearly understood. In the study, the offspring of marine medaka (oryzias melastigma) which were exposed to 0.5 μg L BaP suffered from circadian rhythm oscillation disorders and severe DNA damage.

Amelioration of clinical course and demyelination in the cuprizone mouse model in relation to ketogenic diet.

Ketogenic diet (KD) is defined as a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet with appropriate amounts of protein, which has broad neuroprotective effects. However, the mechanisms of ameliorating the demyelination and of the neuroprotective effects of KD have not yet been completely elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the protection mechanism of KD treatment in the cuprizone (bis-cyclohexanone oxalydihydrazone, CPZ)-induced demyelination mice model, with special emphasis on neuroinflammation.

Influence of Long-Chain/Medium-Chain Triglycerides and Whey Protein/Tween 80 Ratio on the Stability of Phosphatidylserine Emulsions (O/W).

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a major anionic phospholipid constituent of membrane bilayers, which is specifically enriched in the cytoplasmic leaflet, has functions of regulating the intracellular signaling pathways of neuronal survival and differentiation, and acts as a neurotransmitter to control the activity of neurons. Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions could improve the bio-availability of PS. Thus, there is a high level of interest in PS emulsion because of its purported health benefits.